Improvement in mowing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,855, dated March 17,1857.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN TAGGART, of Roxbury, in the county of Norfolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Mowing-Machine;andldoherebydeclarethat the same is fully described and represented inthe following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which-Figure l denotes a top view of the said machine; Fig. 2, a sideelevation of it; Fig. 3, a horizontal section taken through its cuttersand their head or frame.

My machine, when in use, is intended to be pressed instead of beingdrawn forward, although by arrangingits thills so thatthey shall extendtoward the front instead of in rear of the said machine, as shown in thedrawings, it may be drawn over a surface to be mowed.

In constructing my said machine I employ a frame or carriage, A, mountedon a single axle, B, carrying two wheels, C C, disposed with respect toone another andthe frame, as, shown in the drawings. Besides saidwheels; the axle has a set of thills, D, projecting backward from it;and it also carries a drivingpulley, E, around which and another pulley,F, an endless bandorchain,G, is placed. This latter pulley is fixed on ahorizontal shaft, H, extending across the front part of the frame A, andcarrying a bevel-gear, I, that engages with a bevel-pinion, K, fixedupon a vertical shaft, L. On the lower end of the said shaft is asprocket-wheel, M, the samebeing arranged within the cutter-head orlrame N at or near one end of the same, While another suchsprocket-wheel, O, is placed at the opposite end of the frame. Aroundthese two sprocketwheels and within the cutter-head an endless belt orchain, P, travels, the same having jointed toit a series of triangularknives or cutters, R R. Each of these cutters consists of a triangularplate of steel, provided with a joint-hole at or near the vertex of itslesser angle, and so that the cutter may turn horizontally on ajoint-pin, a, and Work or play through the endlesschain and against aguide or surface, S or S', arranged between the sprocket-wheels andwithin the cutter-head, as shown in Fig. 3, and also in Fig. 4, whichisa transverse section of the cutter-head, the

knives, and the endless chain. The bearingsurface S is arranged at adistance from the such a manner as to keep the knives R in the properposition for cutting the grass, as shown in the drawings.

Just in rear of the tiret-mentioned sprocket- Wheel I arrange astationaryY knife-Sharpener, T, formed of two blades of steel, c d,arranged together, as seen in Fig. 2, and so that during the revolutionof each knife about the sprocket-wheel not only shall its cutting-edgebe carried between the blades of the knifeshapener and against the same,so as to be sharpened by them, but that said blades shall force theknife entirely back Within the cntter-head, 0r so far within the same asto prevent the knives from acting against and cutting any grass `orgrain which may lie on the cutter-head or be in rear of it. While theknives are passing along the front part or guide, S', they will extendbeyond the cutterhead, and so as to cut the standing blades of grass andwith drawing strokes,77 the guide S' performing the office ofmaintaining the knives in proper position for euttingt%',\frass. Whenthe machine is pushed forward against the grass its endless chain ofcutters will be put in rotation in such manner as tccause them to mowthe grass and keep themselves sharp.

I do not claim a series of cutters in their application to grain andgrass harvesters. Neither do I claim a knife-Sharpener; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l A seriesof rotary cutters working in receses or guides S S', in combination witha knife- Sharpener, T, when the said parts are constructed and arrangedfor operation in the manner and for the purpose as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

VJOHN TAGGART.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr.

